Accreditation and programming of psychiatric hospitals

Planning permit and programming

A new hospital or a hospital that wants extra beds must first apply for a planning permit. However, the new capacity of a setting must fit in with the programming(opens in new window). This is the planning of how many beds of each type will be needed in Flanders in the coming years.

Additional information on applying for a planning permit(opens in new window)

Applying for (provisional) accreditation

When you apply for accreditation as a psychiatric hospital or hospital unit, you will first be given provisional accreditation. Provisional accreditation is valid for 6 months and may be renewed.

When your provisional accreditation expires, the Flemish Care Inspectorate (Dutch: Zorginspectie) will carry out an audit. The Department of Care (Dutch: Departement Zorg) will subsequently award the accreditation based on the outcome of this audit. The accreditation is valid for a maximum of 6 years. In the case of new hospital units, the period of validity is aligned with the period of accreditation of the hospital as a whole.

Additional information on applying for accreditation(opens in new window)

Arranging compulsory admission to a psychiatric hospital

The implementation and monitoring of compulsory admission(opens in new window) to a psychiatric hospital comes entirely under the authority of the Flemish Care Inspectorate.